AAA Projects Modest Gain For Memorial Day Travel Despite Lower Air Volume
ORLANDO, Fla.--May 16, 2002--Memorial Day holiday travel is expected to show a modest increase over last year's strong travel period despite a decline in air travel, according to AAA.AAA estimates that 35.2 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this holiday, up 1 percent from last year's 34.9 million.
Approximately 29.3 million travelers expect to go by motor vehicle, a 2 percent increase from the 28.7 million who drove a year ago. Another 4.1 million people plan to travel by airplane, down more than 7 percent from the 4.4 million who flew last Memorial Day holiday.
A projected 1.8 million vacationers will go by train, bus or other mode of transportation, the same total as a year ago.
"AAA is optimistic that travel should not only be better than last Memorial Day holiday but that the travel industry truly is on the road to recovery," said AAA Travel Vice President Sandra Hughes. "Although air travel numbers remain down, more Americans are flying than at any time since Sept. 11."
The greatest number of Memorial Day auto travelers will originate in the West with 7.2 million, followed by the Southeast, 6.4 million; Midwest, 6.1 million; Northeast, 5.3 million; and Great Lakes, 4.3 million.
The West is expected to produce the largest number of air travelers with 1.3 million, followed by the Midwest with 1.1 million; Southeast, 800,000; Northeast, 500,000; and Great Lakes, 400,000.
Towns and rural areas are the preferred destinations this holiday with 29 percent of the travel volume. Other destinations include cities, 16 percent; oceans/beaches, 15 percent; lakes, 11 percent; mountains, 7 percent; state/national parks, 6 percent; and theme/amusement parks, 3 percent. Another 11 percent responded with other and 2 percent said they didn't know.
Of the total Memorial Day travelers, 35 percent expect to stay at a hotel/motel and another 34 percent will stay with friends or relatives. Other overnight plans include: camper/trailer/RV/tent, 16 percent; cabin/condo, 8 percent; other 4 percent; and no overnight stay or didn't know, 3 percent.
Research for Memorial Day travel is based on a national telephone survey of 1,300 adults by the Travel Industry Association of American, which conducts special research for AAA.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its 45 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.
Projected Number of Memorial Day, 2002 Travelers
By Automobile/Truck/RV
By Census Region of Residence(1)
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2002 2002
2002 Percent Number of Auto
Population Traveling Travelers
(Millions) by Auto (Millions)
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Total United States 280.3 10.5% 29.3
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Northeast 52.3 10.2% 5.3
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Southeast 68.5 9.4% 6.4
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Great Lakes 45.0 9.5% 4.3
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Midwest 50.7 12.1% 6.1
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West 63.8 11.3% 7.2
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Projected Number of Memorial Day, 2002 Travelers
By Air
By Census Region of Residence(1)
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2002 2002
2002 Percent Number of Air
Population Traveling Travelers
(Millions) by Air (Millions)
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Total United States 280.3 1.4% 4.1
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Northeast 52.3 1.0% 0.5
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Southeast 68.5 1.1% 0.8
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Great Lakes 45.0 0.8% 0.4
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Midwest 50.7 2.2% 1.1
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West 63.8 2.0% 1.3
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(1) NORTHEAST: New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania; SOUTHEAST: South Atlantic: Delaware, District of
Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, West Virginia; East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky,
Mississippi, Tennessee; GREAT LAKES: East North Central: Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin; MIDWEST: West North Central: Iowa,
Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota;
West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas; WEST:
Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico,
Wyoming, Utah; Pacific: Washington, Oregon, California.
Source: Travel Industry Association of America/AAA